Tahlequah ends single-officer patrols

TAHLEQUAH — The Tahlequah Police Department is implementing tandem patrols as a safety measure after recent instances of high-profile violence against police officers across the nation.

Meanwhile, spokesmen from the Tulsa Police Department and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office say they are aware of national tensions but haven’t felt the need to alter operations. An official with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol echoed those sentiments.

Tahlequah is temporarily cutting its number of active patrol vehicles in half, so officers are always riding in pairs, Police Chief Nate King told the Tulsa World on Thursday. The change is a direct response to the “recent unprovoked violence” against law enforcement officers that has been featured heavily in the news and on social media, King said.

“Officers, this violence is weighing on them, in Tahlequah and across the nation,” he said. “The anxiety and elevated risk is being fueled by all the different stories. I think this will help diminish that edge on our officers.”

King is referencing separate shootings this week in which two officers from Texas and Illinois were killed. Last week, two Louisiana officers were shot to death while responding to routine calls.

Violent protests in Ferguson, Mo., and Baltimore targeting police brutality toward unarmed black men also have elevated tensions between law enforcement and the public.

“Between Black Lives Matter and Police Lives Matter, there’s almost become a separation,” King said. “That’s not our goal here. Our goal is to be one unified community, and all lives matter. No matter who you are or what you do for a living, your life matters.”

Adding a second officer to each patrol will ease the minds of officers and allow them to focus more on the public, he said. One officer will be able to focus solely on the citizen, and the other will focus on ensuring the surroundings are safe.

Tahlequah officers have not received any direct threats in recent memory, King said. The new procedure is a precautionary measure.

“In the end, this will help officers focus more on citizens without being preoccupied with the threat of violence, he said.

King stressed that the change isn’t permanent and hopes it will last for only a few weeks until the mood begins to calm.

In the meantime, the department is asking residents to submit all reports that don’t require on-scene investigation either at the station or via a non-emergency phone number.

Fewer patrols mean less attention to emergency calls. The department has a minimum staffing standard of four officers per shift. In some cases, only two patrols at a time will be active within the city.

The department also is working to place report forms on the city of Tahlequah website and its Facebook page.

Tulsa police spokesman Leland Ashley said backlash against officers is a topic addressed during in-service training or other meetings. Officers haven’t seen an uptick in “anything significant,” Ashley said. Verbal and physical assaults sometimes just come with the job, he said.

“We overall are aware of what goes on nationally; we’ve not experienced anything significant here in the city of Tulsa,” Ashley said.

Ashley noted the department encourages officers to radio for backup early in a call and simply cancel it if the situation ends up not needing another officer. He said regular street officers still patrol on their own with no plans to double up.

Tulsa County sheriff’s office spokesman Justin Green said deputies have encountered some negative comments that stem from unrest elsewhere. But on the flip side, he said, other citizens have approached to show appreciation and offer thanks during difficult times.

“There’s both sides out there,” he said.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Capt. Paul Timmons said he hasn’t heard of any troopers being more on edge as the result of the tragedies in law enforcement, but he acknowledged an extra need for alertness in the field.

“All of our law enforcement people are reminded that they need to be vigilant in light of recent events,” Timmons said. “They’re taking the necessary precautions to stay safe and make sure that the public stays safe, as well.”

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